Your 2012/2013 Richmond Sockeyes are this years Cyclone Taylor Cup Champions after defeating the VIJHL representative Victoria Cougars 4-1 in the Gold Medal game. Jake Roder was instrumental in all four of Richmonds victories with 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points including receiving the Harold Brittain trophy as tournament MVP.
Richmond clinched first place and home ice in the gold medal game by going 3-0 in round robin play with 5-2, 6-2, and 3-2 wins. Their opponent the Victoria Cougars went 2-1 with a 5-2 loss to Richmond and 1-0 and 6-1 wins over Castlegar and Comox respectively.
The Cougars opened the championship game with a goal from Matthew Ho to open the scoring and give Victoria the 1-0 lead. That's the way the period would end 1-0. But the Sockeyes remained vigilant. In a 4 minute and 24 second span the Sockeyes blew the game wide open. Three consecutive goals lead to a 3-1 lead with goals from Jeremy Hamaguchi, Jake Roder and Liam Lawson. Jeremy had a nice tip, Roder had an absolutely amzing power move and Lawson's was a great shot from the top of the circle. Had Jake Roder's goal been scored in a Stanley Cup Final it would be replayed for years on highlight reels. Roder deeked out three cougars players behind the net and wrapped the puck into the net, it was incredible. That would spell the end of Cougars goalie Evan Roch's night allowing 3 goals on 18 shots. Michael Herringer the Victoria Royals prospect would replace him.
Rudi Thorsteinson would add one more before the period was out giving Richmond the 4-1 lead and total control. Despite the Cougars playing their top line of Brody Coulter, Sam Rice and Dane Feeney for what seemed like 15 minutes in the third period they could not solve Kootenay Alder as he stopped 17 of 18 shots, and all 17 in a row after allowing the first shot of the game in the net.
Time would tick down and the Richmond Sockeyes would pour onto the ice in celebration of their 5th Cyclone Taylor Cup in team history and second in five years. The excitement and jubilation of the time was incredible and an experience none of them will ever forget.
We would like to thank all of the teams, players, coaches, staff , parents, volunteers and anyone else that made the Cyclone Taylor Cup in Courtenay a success. The Comox Valley Glacier Kings did a wonderful job hosting and should be congratulated. Now it is onto St. Malo, Manitoba for the Richmond Sockeyes as they are now just a few games away from becoming National champs to go along with their league and provincial titles. The tournament begins Thursday April 18th in Manitoba. The representing teams of each province are, Thunder Bay Northern Hawks(Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League, Ontario), Peguis Juniors (Keystone Junior Hockey League, Manitoba), St. Malo Warriors(Keystone Junior Hockey League, Manitoba), Saskatoon Royals(Prairie Junior Hockey League, Saskatchewan), Okotoks Bisons(Heritage Junior Hockey League, Alberta) and the Richmond Sockeyes(Pacific Junior Hockey League, Briish Colombia). You can watch the games on Fast Hockey and the games will also be live tweeted @R_Sockeyes follow us at https://twitter.com/R_Sockeyes
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